Garrigues Digital

On September 23, 2021, Supreme Decree No. 6 of 2021 of the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism was published in the Official Gazette approving the Electronic Commerce Regulation. The purpose of this regulation is to strengthen the transparency and quality of the information provided to consumers on e-commerce platforms in order to encourage informed decision-making, and thus strengthen consumers' right to free choice. 

February 1, 2022 is the key date, when the new Regulation for the temporary performance of activities in innovative new models will come into force. 

Together with the proposal for a Digital Services Act (see here), the European Commission has proposed a new regulatory regime applicable to certain platforms that provide digital services (Digital Markets Act, or DMA). The approval of these rules will involve substantial changes in the business models of a number of companies and will have a significant impact on how competition plays out in digital markets.

The European Commission has just published its proposal to regulate digital services in two texts which even it considers ambitious: the Proposal for a Regulation on Digital Markets (analyzed here) and the  Proposal on a Regulation for Digital Services (DSA) which we address below. In forthcoming articles, we will take a close look at the many changes that lie ahead. Today, by way of introduction, we provide a summary of the main obligations (and rights) contained in the Proposal for a Regulation on Digital Services.

The Portuguese  Data Protection Authority (CNPD, Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados) issued, on April 8, guidelines regarding the processing of personal data carried out through distance learning platforms driven by e-learning, MOOC (massive open online course), content/file sharing, videoconferencing and messaging technologies.

In the context of the extraordinary measures adopted to minimize the impact of new coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Portuguese economy, the Portuguese Government decided to extend the deadline to submit the VAT periodic return of February from 10 to 17 April (with no penalties). The corresponding VAT can be payed until 20 April.

Within the context of the global spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), companies have discovered a new reality, which also raises questions within the scope of the processing of personal data, in particular the fulfillment of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Act 46/2012, dated August 29 (Electronic Communications Privacy Act).